SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State (3-1) will end its non-conference schedule with a pair of matches against Houston Baptist (1-3). The first match will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, followed by an 11 a.m. serve on Saturday, Sept. 19, both at Strahan Arena.
 
Saturday's match will be shown on ESPN+ with John Liddle and former U.S. Women's Olympic National Volleyball Team coach Mick Haley on the call.  
 
The Bobcats are coming off a 1-1 weekend split against UTEP. In the young season, the Bobcats have a .241 hitting percentage while holding their opponents to a .191 clip. The team also averages 12.06 assists per set, 13.82 digs per set, and 2.15 blocks per set.
 
Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald leads the Bobcats with 3.47 kills per set (59 total kills) and a .323 hitting percentage. She also paces the team with 13 total blocks. Sophomore outside Caitlan Buettner follows with 3.18 kills per set (54 total kills) and also adds 2.76 digs per set. She also has seven total blocks and a team-high three aces. Junior setter Emily DeWalt directs the offense with 9.59 assists per set and has registered 2.82 digs per set, 20 kills (.314) and two aces. TXST has a solid middle attack beginning with senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott who has 2.06 kills on average (35 total kills) and nine total blocks. Sophomore middle Tessa Marshall leads the team with 0.92 blocks per set (12 total blocks) and junior middle Jillian Slaughter has 11 total blocks (0.69 blocks per set) to go along with 26 total kills. Scott, Marshall and Slaughter each have four solo blocks this season. Junior libero Kayla Granado leads the defense with 3.29 digs per set (56 total digs).
 
SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST
Houston Baptist is searching for its first road win of the season after dropping six of seven sets at Louisiana on opening weekend and lost a five-set match at SFA last weekend. They did sweep ULM last weekend in Nacogdoches, Texas.
 
Junior outside hitter Kelly Colwell leads the Huskies with 2.53 kills per set (38 total kills) and also averages 4.20 digs per set (63 total digs). Senior outside Mikayla Vivens follows with 2.20 kills per set. Sophomore setter Ellie Wipf conducts the offense with 7.47 assists per set (112 total assists) and adds 13 kills and six blocks to her stat line. Junior middle blocker Jada Allen paces the team 0.77 blocks per set with 10 total blocks, including three solos. She also hits .205 with 13 kills on 44 swings.    
 
SERIES HISTORY
Although just three matches, Texas State leads Houston Baptist 2-1 in the all-time series, including a 1-1 mark when playing in San Marcos. The last match between the Bobcats and Huskies was in Sept. 2017 and the Bobcats defeated the Huskies in straight sets.
 
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